Molding machine clamping apparatus



Patented Jan. 7, 1930 K ENT oF F-reE:

cnnon o. nnr'rnlv, or cmcmmmmm MOLDING MACHINE GLAMPING APPARATUSApplication med my 31,

My invention relates to improvements in molding clamping apparatus. Oneof its objects is to provide improved apparatus to clamp the cope memberand drag member of a molders flask in place upon the mold table of amolding machine just prior to and during the operation of inverting saidcope and drag members. Another object is to provlde clamping means whichis adjustable to clamp the cope and drag members of flasks of differentsizes, even where the flask is of equal or greater length than the moldtable. Another object is to provide clamping mechanism adapted to beconveniently applied 'for use and detached after use. Another ob]ect isto provide a simple, strong, and reliable clamping means for the purposeintended. My invention also relates to certain details of form andarrangement, and combination of components, all of which will be fullyset forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the mold table of a molding machine with aflask member mounted thereon and with my improved clamping apparatusapplied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the opposite end of Fig. 1 from that shown in Fg. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the clamping members detached.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the clamping lever detached.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of my invention inwhich 15 represents the mold table or board of a molding machine of thegeneral type 1n which the mold table is attached to the piston of apneumatic cylinder, or to other mechanism whereby the mold table with aflask member clamped thereto may be lifted and inverted and the flaskmember deposited upon a plate or bed until required for use in a castingoperation. One of the flask members, for instance the cope member 16 ismounted upon the mold table and a mold cavity or impression of thearticle to be cast is formed in a body of molders sand or moldingmaterial within the flask member, either by mechanical means or apattern. A lid or plate 17 is then 1929: Serial' No.-367,516.

placed above the flask member 16 and the clamping apparatus-is adjustedto position. The mold"tab1e-..15 -is provided with two T-shaped-slots 18and:19 A pair of detach able brackets"20 and'2'1, each-comprising avertical section 22 and a horizontal section 23, and a connectedtogether by means of a cross bar 24 areadjustedvinto position -by-insorting the sections 23 intoone end of the T-slots 18 and.19.' A pairo-fdetach-able brackets 26-and 27 each comprising-avertical section 28and-- a horizontal section 29 are adjusted into position by insertingthe horizontal sections 1 29 into the opposite ends-of the T-slots 18and 19. A horizontal shaft 30 is adjusted into relation to a pairofperforations 31 through theupright sections 28 of the. brackets 26 and27 ,so -that-said shaft is retained in relation tosaid brackets 26: and27 by sliding the horizontalsections 29 into the T-slots18 and 19fofthemoldboardd The shaft 30 j ournals'relative to the perforations 31through bracket sections-28L Mounted loosely or rigidly upon thecentralportion o-f the shaft 30 is a sleeve having-twocam or 7 eccentric faces32 and 33'and an-intermediate guide or spacing member 34,- andanactuatlng. lever 35.-

V The cross-bar 24 has a centrally-located upward projection 36 providedwith a series of perforations 37 one above the other. A yokesh'apedcla-mping bar 40 is provided-at one end with a tongue 41 adaptedto enter any one of-theperforations 37,;depending upon the height of theflask memberj 16. The

opposite end of the clamping bar 40- is formed in position upon the moldtable until the mold board flask member and clamping apparatus have beeninverted in position and the lid 17 deposited upon a. firm supportingmember after which the clamping apparatus is detached and the mold tablereturned to its original position ready to receive another flask member;

The shaft and eccentrics 32 and 33 are adapted to be supported by anydesired pair of perforations 31, and the tongue 41 to be engaged withany one of the perforations 37, thereby giving the clamping apparatus awide range of adjustability vertically to accommodate flask members ofdifferent sizes, While the bracket members 22 and 28 are adjustable toand from each other through a wide range of adjustments. The members 22and 28 may be adjusted if desired to overhang the ends of the mold tableso that flask members the full length of the mold table may be employedif desired. A series of yoke members of different lengths are provided,each adapted for use with flask members of approximately the samelength.

The apparatus herein shown and described is capable of considerablemodification within the scope of the claims without departing from thespirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. Molding machine clamping apparatus comprising an invertable moldingtableprovided with substantially parallel T-slots, a first pair ofbrackets detachably attached to said T-slots at one end thereof, asecond pair 7 of brackets detachably attached to said T-slots at theopposite end thereof, and a yoke detachably attached at one end to saidfirst pair of brackets and detachably attached at its opposite end tosaid second'pair of bracketsand engaging a flask member intermediate ofsaid first pair and second pair of brackets to clamp the flask member tosaid molding table. i

2. Molding machine clamping apparatus comprising an invertible moldingtable provided with substantially parallel T-slots, a first pair ofbrackets detachably attached to said T-slots at one end thereof, "asecond pair of brackets detachably attached to said T-slots at theopposite end thereof, a yoke detachably'and adjustably. attached at oneend to said first pair of brackets and detachably and adjustablyattached at its opposite end to said second pair of brackets, andengaging a flask member intermediate of said first pair and second pairof brackets to clamp the flask member to said moldingtable.

3. Molding machine clamping apparatus comprising an invertible moldingtable provided with substantially parallel T-slots, a first pair ofbrackets detachably attached to said T-slots to one end thereof, asecond pair of brackets detachably attached I to said T-slots at theopposite end thereof, a yoke detachably and adj ustably attached at oneend to said first pair of brackets and having its opposite end forkedand formed into a hook, a cross bar carried by and adjustable relativeto said second pair of brackets, cam faces carried by said cross bar toengage the hooked end of said yoke, an actuating lever to actuate saidcam faces, and adjusting blocks interposed between said-flask member andsaid yoke to take up the major portion of the slack between said flaskmember and yoke be

